Structural slab members

ABSTRACT

A structural slab element composed of two grid frames and a series of diagonal members extending between the two frames, with each diagonal member end being connected to an intersection point of a respective grid frame, wherein certain of the diagonal members and/or portions of the grid frames are removed to provide rectangular passages for conduits and the regions around the removed portions are strengthened by reinforcing members. Certain of the diagonal members are prolonged to extend out of the resulting slab perpendicular to the grid frames for reinforcing walls built on the slab. A basic slab of the type described has one side, corresponding to the location of a grid frame, embedded in a slab of concrete to provide a reusable, large-area, light weight construction mold form.

United States Patent Yeffal-Rueda [541 STRUCTURAL SLAB MEMBERS [72]Inventor: Manuel Yeffal-Rueda, Mexico City Mexico [73] A'ssignee:Tridilosa International, Inc., Mexico D.F, Mexico [22] Filed: July 20,1970 [21] Appl. No.: 56,260

[52] us. Cl. ..52/650, 52/648 [451 Dec. 12,1972

812,464 7/1951 Germany ..52l650 Primary Examiner-Frank L. AbbottAssistant Examiner-Leslie A. Braun Attorney-Spencer & Kaye [57] ABSTRACTA structural slab element composed of two grid frames and a series ofdiagonal members extending between the two frames, with each diagonalmember end being connected to an intersection point of a respective gridframe, wherein certain of the diagonal members and/or portions of thegrid frames are removed to provide rectangular passages for conduits andthe regions around the, removed portions are strengthened by reinforcingmembers. Certain of the diagonal members are prolonged to extend out ofthe resulting slab perpendicular to the grid frames for reinforcingwalls built on the slab. A basic slab of the type described has oneside, corresponding to the location of a grid frame, embedded in a slabof concrete to provide a reusable, large-area, light weight constructionmold form.

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. STRUCTURAL SLAB MEMBERS I BACKGROUND'OF THE INVENTION The presentinvention relates to improvements in structural members composed of aframework, and particularly structural slabs of this type.

In the construction field, there is a continual demand for reducing theweight and fabrication cost of basic structural members capable ofsupporting the loads existing in buildings of all sizes and types, aswell as bridges and the like. A notable contribution in this regard isdisclosed in our Mexican Pat. No. 96,499, issued on Apr. 28, 1967.

That patent discloses structural slab members having an extremely lowweight for a given load bearing capacity and capable of being fabricatedin a rapid and simple manner either atthe building side or in a fabrication installation. One basic embodiment of the slab structuredisclosed in the patent is illustrated in FIGS.

' l-3 of the drawings,.FIGS. l and 3 being side views of 7 parallel,longitudinal rods 1 and parallel transverse rods l. Rods 1' are disposedat right angles to rods 1 and are welded or otherwise attached theretoat each point ofintersectionof the grid. There is also provided asimilar upper grid framework composed of parallel, longitudinal rods 2and parallel transverse rods 2' welded together at each intersectionpoint of the grid. The frameworks are arranged with respect to oneanother so that the intersection points of the lower framework areoffset from the intersection points of the other framework, as is mostclearly shown in FIG. 2. Between the two frameworks are disposed aseries of bent rods 3, each forming a series of triangles. The rods 3extend more or less in the same direction, roughly parallel to the rodsland 2. The rods 3 are disposed between the two frameworks so thatsuccessive. vertices of each rod 3 are attached to intersection pointsof alternate frameworks. As a result, each straight leg of each rod 3will extend diagonally between the frameworks.

In addition, each intersection point of each framework is connected tothe apices of two adjacent rods 3.

The basic framework presents a high degree of rigidity and a low weightfor a given load bearing capacity. In addition, since a great deal offree space exists between the framework, the resulting slab will, whenthe frameworks are covered with layers of concrete or other coveringmaterials, contain a large volume of dead air which will serve as aneffective sound and thermal insulator. In addition, the space betweenthe frameworks can be employed for the passage of plumbing, electricaland heating the air conditioning units.

While the slabs illustrated in FIGS. 1-3 represent a valuablecontribution to the art, the space between the tow frameworks is cut upby a regular array of diagonal rods which limit the maximum transversedimensions of conduits which can pass through the slab. This isparticularly troublesome when the building is to be provided with airconditioning, since air conditioning ducts normally have a relativelylarge rectangular cross section.

Furthermore, there is no simple and direct way to provide a reinforcedconnection between such slabs and vertical walls built thereon.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is a primary object of the invention toovercome these drawbacks. Another object of the invention is to providecertain improvements in the above-described slabs.

Yet another object of the invention is to modify such slabs to permitthe ready passage of large rectangular ducts. Still another object ofthe invention is to modify such slabs to provide for a directreinforcing connection to overlying vertical walls.

A still further object of the invention is to produce mold forms fromsuch slabs.

These and other objects according to the invention are achieved byeliminating certain diagonals and/or portions of one of the frameworksto permit the passage of large area rectangular ducts and by providingreinforced elements around the regions from which such elements havebeen eliminated. Objects according to the invention are also achieved byprolonging certain of the diagonals in a direction normal to theframeworks and into a region outside of the frameworks for reinforcing awall disposed on the slab. Other objects according to the invention areachieved by forming a concrete plate, or slab, with one framework sideof the slab embedded in the concrete so that the structural slab willsupport the concrete plate and the plate itself can serve as one side ofa form in building construction.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an elevational view of aprior art slab taken in the direction of the arrow 1 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the slab of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an elevational view of the slab taken inthe direction of thearrow 3 of FIG. 2.

FIGS. 1-3 have already been described in detail.

FIG. 4 is an elevational view of one embodiment of the invention, takenin the direction of the arrow 4 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the embodiment of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a elevational view of the embodiment of FIG. 4 taken in thedirection of the arrow 6 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is an elevational view of another embodiment of the invention,taken in the direction of the arrow 7 of FIG. 8.

FIG. 8 is a plan view of the embodiment of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a plan view of a further embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 10 is an elevational view of yet another embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 11 is an elevational view of the embodiment of FIG. 10, taken in adirection perpendicular to that of FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of one further embodiment of theinvention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIGS. 4-6 illustrate a firstembodiment of the invention in which two adjacent rows of diagonalelements are eliminated to provide a rectangular conduit channel in thedirection of the arrow 4 of FIG. 5. In addition, the transverse rod ofthe lower framework to which the eliminated diagonals would be connectedis also removed since, in the absence of connection diagonals, thecontribution of this transverse rod to the strengthening of the slabwould be minimal.

To compensate for the load supporting function which would be performedby the diagonals which have been eliminated, support members 13 areconnected between the upper and lower frameworks and are disposed todefine two opposed sides of the resulting conduit channel. The othersides of the channel are defined by the upper and lower frameworks.Support members 13 are oriented to be perpendicular to longitudinalframework rods 1 and 2 while being inclined to transverse rods 1' and 2,as is best illustrated in FIG. 6. The slab is also provided withadditional transverse framework rods 11 forming part of the lowerframework and disposed in line with the lower connection points ofmembers 13. In contrast with rods 1', which are offset relative to rods2', rods 11 are disposed to be in line with corresponding rods 2 of theupper framework.

These elements 11 and 13, which must be stronger and stiffer than thediagonal rods 3 and transverse rods 2', shall be constituted bystructural shapes like angles, round or square steel pipes, or squarerods. In some instances, when the dimensions of the duct are not toolarge, round steel rods of larger diameter could be used.

FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate a modified version of the arrangement of FIGS.4-6, wherein the rectangular chan-' nel is perpendicular to the channelof FIGS. 4-6. In this embodiment, two entire rods 3 are removed andreplaced by zigzag rods composed of straight portions which areperpendicular to framework rods 1' and 2 and inclined with respect torods 1 and 2. In addition, one longitudinal rod of the lower gridframework is removed and in its place are provided two longitudinal rods16. Each of the rods 16 is in line with the lower connecting points of arespective rod 15, and is also in line with a respective longitudinalrod 2 of the upper grid framework. Rods 15 and 16 thus take over theload supporting function of the eliminated rods 3 and the eliminatedlongitudinal rod of the lower framework. Rods 16 are connected to therods 1' at their points of intersection. Rods 15 and 16 can be similarto the rods 11 and 13 of the embodiment of FIGS. 4-6.

FIG. 9 illustrates a further embodiment of the invention for the passageof a rectangular duct in a direction perpendicular to the planes of theupper and lower grid frameworks. In this embodiment, connecting membersconstituting portions of two adjacent diagonal rods 3 are removed, asare portions of a longitudinal rod 1 and a transverse rod 1 of the lowergrid framework. This provides the desired rectangular channel for avertical conduit.

In order to compensate for the load supporting function normallyperformed by the eliminated rod portions, the rods of the lower gridframework which are adjacent those rods having portions removed, arereplaced by reinforced rods 21 and 21'. Similarly, portions of thediagonal rods surrounding the rectangular channel are replaced byreinforced rod portions 23. The resulting assembly has substantially thesame load supporting capability as a similar slab provided with theeliminated rod portions. The structure of this embodiment is essentiallysimilar to the prior art structure in that the rods 21 and 21' and thediagonal rod portions 23 occupy the same positions as the rods and rodportions which they replace.

Elements 21, 21', and 23 must be stronger than the eliminated rodportions. Therefore, round reinforcing bars of larger diameter; andstructural shapes like angles, angles, round or square steel pipes orsquare steel bars must be used.

Another feature of the present invention is illustrated in FIGS. 10 and11. According to this feature, one zigzag rod 3 is removed and replacedby two rods 33 each of which extends across a portion of the length ofthe slab. These rods 33 meet at one intersection point of the upper gridframework and from that point are extended upward to form extensions33'. Rods 33 are disposed and connected in such a manner that extensions33' will extend into the region to be occupied by a vertical wallsupported by the slab. After the slab has been put in place in thebuilding under construction, the vertical wall can be formed, frompoured concrete for example, to enclose the extensions 33'. Thus, thewall will be reinforced by extensions 33', in addition to otherreinforcements provided therein, and will automatically be securelyconnected to the slab itself, and hence to concrete flooring formedabout the upper grid framework of the slab. If desired, the zigzag rod 3which is connected to the same point of intersection of the upper gridframework as the rods 33 could also be replaced by rods 33 havingextensions 33 to provide four vertical extensions for reinforcing avertical wall at that point. For providing reinforcing extensions atseveral points across the length of a slab, a plurality of rods 33 eachproviding a vertical extension at each end could be substituted for oneor several of the zig-zag rods 3.

FIG. 12 illustrates another feature of the present invention accordingto which a basic slab unit composed of an upper grid framework, a lowergrid framework and zig-zag support rods 3 has its lower framework 1,1embedded in a concrete plate 41, represented in outline by broken linesto permit the entire slab to be visable, to produce one wall of aconstruction mold form. Such an arrangement can be fabricated by firstassembling the structural slab, positioning the slab in a concrete mold,for example of the extrusion machine, vibrating table or prestressed bedtype, so that the lower framework is in the region to be filled withconcrete, and then forming the concrete plate 41.

The dimensions of such a form can be selected according to the size ofthe available transport vehicles and the facilities available forhandling the form at the building site.

Such a mold form has certain distinct advantages in that it can beemployed with a minimum of shoring and the concrete plate can be made tocover a larger contact surface, and to be flatter, than conventionalconstruction mold forms. The mold form illustrated in FIG. 12 has thefurther advantage that it is easily reusable.

While all of the embodiments according to the invention have beenillustrated in the drawings as being composed of cylindrical rods, itshould be appreciated that basic elements having other configurationscan also be employed. For example, the slabscould be built up from angleirons, channel pieces, rectangular rods, or even wooden bars.

In addition, in the embodiments of FIGS. 4-6 and 7-8, the diagonalscould be removed only along a portion of the slab to form a rectangularchannel which ends within the slab when a duct is to extend only to acorresponding point of the slab and is then to pass through one of thegrid frameworks.

It will be understood that the above description of the presentinvention is susceptible to various modifications, changes andadaptations, and the same are intended to be comprehended within themeaning and range of equivalents of the appended claims.

I claim: v

1. In a structural member comprising: first and second spaced gridframeworks each composed of two mutually perpendicular sets of parallel,elongated framework'elements with the elements of one set connectedtothe elements, of the other set at the points of intersection of thetwo sets; and a plurality of elongated diagonal elements each having oneend connected to a point of intersection of one framework and its otherend connected to an adjacent point of intersection of the otherframework, each diagonal element being inclined with respect to bothsets of framework elements of each framework so that the points ofintersection of one framework are offset, with respect to the plane ofeach framework, from the points of intersection of the other frameworkin the directions of both sets of framework elements and each set offramework elements of one frameworkis oriented in the same direction asa respective set of framework elements of the other framework, therebeing two diagonal elements connected to each point of intersection ofeach said framework, the improvement wherein the diagonal elementsconnected to at least one said point of intersection comprise extensionsextending from the ends of said diagonal elements which are connected tothat point of intersection and projecting out of said structural memberand perpendicular thereto for connecting said elements to a body ofmaterial formed around said extensions, wherein said member is made freeof elements in a three-dimensional region to define a clear channelextending at least partially through said member and having a squarecross section one dimension of which coincides with the area enclosed bytwo adjacent framework elements of one set of said first framework, saidchannel extending parallel to one set of framework elements of each saidframework, and wherein said member further comprises two reinforcingframework elements connected on said second framework and disposedparallel to, and in line with, said two adjacent framework elements ofsaid first framework to define therewith the corners of said channel,and reinforcing diagonal elements, each connected between one of saidreinforcing framework elements, at a point of intersection of thatframework element with a framework element of the other set of saidsecond framework and that one of said adjacent elements which is at thesame side of said channel, at a point of intersection of said firstframework, each said reinforcin dia onal elem nt bein arallel to a landefining 0%re si e of said c annel being inclin ed t8 said reinforcingframework elements, said reinforcing elements have a greater loadbearing capacity than the other elements of said member.

2. In a structural member comprising: first and second spaced gridframeworks each composed of two mutually perpendicular sets of parallel,elongated framework elements with the elements of one set connected tothe elements of the other set at the points of intersection of the twosets; and a plurality of elongated diagonal elements each having one endconnected to a point of intersection of one framework and its other endconnected to an adjacent point of intersection of the other framework,each diagonal element being inclined with respect to both sets offramework elements of each framework so that the points of intersectionof one framework are offset, with respect to the plane of eachframework,from the points of intersection of the other framework in thedirections of both sets of framework elements and each set of frameworkelements of one framework is oriented in the same direction as arespective set of framework elements of the other framework, there beingtwo diagonal elements connected to each point of intersection of eachsaid framework, the improvement wherein the diagonal elements connectedto at least one said point of intersection comprise extensions extendingfrom the ends of said diagonal elements which are connected to thatpoint of intersection and projecting out of said structural member andperpendicular thereto for connecting said elements to a body of materialformed around said extensions, wherein said member is made free ofelements in a three-dimensional region to define a clear channelextending at least partially through sad member and having a squarecross section one dimension of which coincides with the area enclosed bytwo adjacent framework elements of one set of said first framework, andwherein said channel extends perpendicular to said frameworks, and thetwo mutually perpendicular framework elements of said second frameworkwhose projections intersect in the region defining said channel are eachconstituted by two partial elements disposed wholly outside of saidregion, said framework elements of said first framework and saiddiagonal elements adjacent said region are constituted by reinforcedelements having a greater load bearing capacity than the other elementsof said member.

1. In a structural member comprising: first and second spaced gridframeworks each composed of two mutually perpendicular sets of parallel,elongated framework elements with the elements of one set connected tothe elements of the other set at the points of intersection of the twosets; and a plurality of elongated diagonal elements each having one endconnected to a point of intersection of one framework and its other endconnected to an adjacent point of intersection of the other framework,each diagonal element being inclined with respect to both sets offramework elements of each framework so that the points of intersectionof one framework are offset, with respect to the plane of eachframework, from the points of intersection of the other framework in thedirections of both sets of framework elements and each set of frameworkelements Of one framework is oriented in the same direction as arespective set of framework elements of the other framework, there beingtwo diagonal elements connected to each point of intersection of eachsaid framework, the improvement wherein the diagonal elements connectedto at least one said point of intersection comprise extensions extendingfrom the ends of said diagonal elements which are connected to thatpoint of intersection and projecting out of said structural member andperpendicular thereto for connecting said elements to a body of materialformed around said extensions, wherein said member is made free ofelements in a three-dimensional region to define a clear channelextending at least partially through said member and having a squarecross section one dimension of which coincides with the area enclosed bytwo adjacent framework elements of one set of said first framework, saidchannel extending parallel to one set of framework elements of each saidframework, and wherein said member further comprises two reinforcingframework elements connected on said second framework and disposedparallel to, and in line with, said two adjacent framework elements ofsaid first framework to define therewith the corners of said channel,and reinforcing diagonal elements, each connected between one of saidreinforcing framework elements, at a point of intersection of thatframework element with a framework element of the other set of saidsecond framework and that one of said adjacent elements which is at thesame side of said channel, at a point of intersection of said firstframework, each said reinforcing diagonal element being parallel to aplane defining one side of said channel and being inclined to saidreinforcing framework elements, said reinforcing elements have a greaterload bearing capacity than the other elements of said member.
 2. In astructural member comprising: first and second spaced grid frameworkseach composed of two mutually perpendicular sets of parallel, elongatedframework elements with the elements of one set connected to theelements of the other set at the points of intersection of the two sets;and a plurality of elongated diagonal elements each having one endconnected to a point of intersection of one framework and its other endconnected to an adjacent point of intersection of the other framework,each diagonal element being inclined with respect to both sets offramework elements of each framework so that the points of intersectionof one framework are offset, with respect to the plane of eachframework, from the points of intersection of the other framework in thedirections of both sets of framework elements and each set of frameworkelements of one framework is oriented in the same direction as arespective set of framework elements of the other framework, there beingtwo diagonal elements connected to each point of intersection of eachsaid framework, the improvement wherein the diagonal elements connectedto at least one said point of intersection comprise extensions extendingfrom the ends of said diagonal elements which are connected to thatpoint of intersection and projecting out of said structural member andperpendicular thereto for connecting said elements to a body of materialformed around said extensions, wherein said member is made free ofelements in a three-dimensional region to define a clear channelextending at least partially through sad member and having a squarecross section one dimension of which coincides with the area enclosed bytwo adjacent framework elements of one set of said first framework, andwherein said channel extends perpendicular to said frameworks, and thetwo mutually perpendicular framework elements of said second frameworkwhose projections intersect in the region defining said channel are eachconstituted by two partial elements disposed wholly outside of saidregion, said framework elements of said first framework and saiddiagonal elements adjacent said region are constituted by reinforcedelements havIng a greater load bearing capacity than the other elementsof said member.